Tag Archives: aikido

In this Center Yourself Tuesday series for December, we will study the fundamentals of sword work using the wooden bokken while practicing an eight part kata. No falling is required in this class. Footwork patterns include pivoting, sliding and stepping forward and backward. If you do not have your own bokken you may borrow one from the school during class time. Come practice! Center yourself with the wooden sword, balance and breath.

During this class we will:

• Raise the sword in line with the spine
• Execute sword motions relative to the center line of the body
• Move our upper body so it’s supported by the motion of the lower body
• Develop footwork that supports movements of the sword

By learning these skills we will :

make good use of the ground so that gravity becomes a friendly force • enable our bones to transmit power cleanly so that our muscles can relax • engage the left hand so that it knows what the right hand is doing • educate the left and right half’s of our bodies to coordinate around a central axis • allow our ribs to expand and contract in sync with the rise and fall of the sword and breath • allow our eyes to settle and align with our intention • improve our balance so that dynamic stability is realized

“Being centered” and “moving from center” will shift from abstract concepts to tangible experiences.

Come learn to center yourself with the wooden sword, balance and breath.

In this Center Yourself Tuesday series we will study the fundamentals of sword work using the wooden bokken while practicing an eight part kata. No falling is required in this class. Footwork patterns include pivoting, sliding and stepping forward and backward. If you do not have your own bokken you may borrow one from the school during class time.

During this class we will:

• Raise the sword in line with the spine
• Execute sword motions relative to the center line of the body
• Move our upper body so it’s supported by the motion of the lower body
• Develop footwork that supports movements of the sword

By learning these skills we will :

make good use of the ground so that gravity becomes a friendly force • enable our bones to transmit power cleanly so that our muscles can relax • engage the left hand so that it knows what the right hand is doing • educate the left and right half’s of our bodies to coordinate around a central axis • allow our ribs to expand and contract in sync with the rise and fall of the sword and breath • allow our eyes to settle and align with our intention • improve our balance so that dynamic stability is realized

“Being centered” and “moving from center” will shift from abstract concepts to tangible experiences.

This program is on hiatus until further notice. Please check the home page for info on our current Saturday program.

The Lines of Engagement

Center, Engage, Connect

Come and play Saturday at the dojo in a safe, light-hearted atmosphere of lively, sensory learning. Based on the movements of Aikido, explore the lines of engagement:

Investigate the moment when you encounter your partner.

Sense your center.

Experiment with where and when you make initial contact.

Discover how you change the angle of encounter.

Sense your balance.

Follow the trajectory of your partner’s motion.

Notice when you naturally take a step to restore balance.

No experience required. You do not have to fall down if you don’t want to. This class is taught by Suzane Van Amburgh, GCFP and shidoin aikido instructor Free to Multnomah Aikikai Members (Regular and Community members). Open to the public for drop in fee of $10. Send us a quick email to let us know if you’d like to attend: spacetomoveinfo@gmail.com

Come learn to center yourself with the wooden sword, balance and breath.

In this new Center Yourself Tuesday series we will study the fundamentals of sword work using the wooden bokken while practicing an eight part kata. No falling is required in this class. Footwork patterns include pivoting, sliding and stepping forward and backward. If you do not have your own bokken you may borrow one from the school during class time.

During this class we will:

• Raise the sword in line with the spine
• Execute sword motions relative to the center line of the body
• Move our upper body so it’s supported by the motion of the lower body
• Develop footwork that supports movements of the sword

By learning these skills we will :

make good use of the ground so that gravity becomes a friendly force • enable our bones to transmit power cleanly so that our muscles can relax • engage the left hand so that it knows what the right hand is doing • educate the left and right half’s of our bodies to coordinate around a central axis • allow our ribs to expand and contract in sync with the rise and fall of the sword and breath • allow our eyes to settle and align with our intention • improve our balance so that dynamic stability is realized

“Being centered” and “moving from center” will shift from abstract concepts to tangible experiences.

Stoel Rives LLP brought in Space To Move® to present a customized version of Aikido and the Art of Negotiation to a group of attorneys new to the firm. The professional development training was delivered by Suzane Van Amburgh of Space To Move and Greg Corbin of Stoel Rives LLP. Both Suzane and Greg practice aikido at Multnomah Aikikai in Portland Oregon. Learn more…